Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self- control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away.

Run [the Christian life] to win. Just as an athlete never trains to come in second in a race, Christians should train to finish the race that God has given them to run. Treat it as if it were the most important thing in your life because it is.

Athletes train for a prize that will fade and tarnish—life will trash your trophies. You will get old. You will be forgotten. Christians run for an eternal crown.

Calvin: For God requires from us nothing more than that we press on vigorously until we reach the goal.